Part II: DaNang
After meeting the team, I promptly forgot their names. I know I'm a terrible person (Janice=Shelly Hill) for not making an effort, but I'll figure it out eventually, there's only 11 of them. Well, 10 right now. One of them is still in China waiting on a visa. BTW: she does make it to the airport to fly to DaNang with us. After walking about the day before, and taking in the sights in the morning we have a team lunch before heading to the airport. If you've ever eaten with me, you know I like to take my time. All those years of wolfing down dreadful Army chow have caused me to slow down and really enjoy my meals. I didn't realize it at the time, but this pre-flight lunch was going to be brief. I ordered beef pho. I finally got it with 15 minutes left on the clock. No time to slurp the broth. Season it, let it cool a bit, and scarf it down. Don't tell my mom I had pho while I was there. And if you do tell her, you heard me say it's not as good as hers. Score one for me because I put a little too much hot sauce on it, and as a result I was sweating on the air conditioned bus. Gotcha Vietnam, spicy foods make you sweat, thus cooling you off. I should listen to my mom more.
Remember, we're working with mostly professional athletes on this team. So while waiting for the plane, they convene and arrive at a consensus for their offensive system lingo. They drew it up and shared it with the group. At this time, I think I have all their names down, but now have to relearn the names of sets, gahhhhhh. We got on a plane, landed in DaNang, and made it to the hotel. Somewhere in there were flowers, a welcome committee, more photos, a bus ride, water buffalos, and super hot gymnasium. Our first practice we just let some rust loose and caught a glimpse of the pageantry in the main gym. The boys rehearsed their pre-game and floor cleaning routine. Yes, all boys. Not a single girl on the crew.
From watching this team, it's clear to me that they are all quite good at volleyball and I realize that this is going to be a great ride. BTW I've got my first misfire, Holly from Michigan becomes Molly. I told you, names are my kryptonite. Icebreaker games make it worse because I try to combine all that information into one word and make a name from it. Molly is just one example. Carlyle becomes Carl, not Grimes from the Walking Dead, but because Lyle reminds me of Lyle Alzado, look it up. And it seems volleyball is such small world that some of them have actually played together, four of them are from KC, two pairs of them played at the same university, and you can get to each person well within less than four degrees of someone other than Tim Kelly, founder and owner of the BIP agency.
Yes, I'm going to talk about the lavatory in our room. There's window into the main room in the bathroom fortunately with privacy blinds. The faucet's cold water is actually warm and not cold. The hot water is actually scalding hot water. The shower is distinctly English with only half a pane of shower glass to contain the shower water. I resolved to sit while holding the sprayer so that I wouldn't leave a lake in the bathroom for my roommate. Why am I talking about the bathroom? I spent a lot of time in the bathroom because Vietnam is hot, and because it is so hot, I had to drink a lot of water. When you drink a lot of water, you have to use the toilet, a lot.
Coach Val discovered the convenience of instant coffee and electric kettles. Instant coffee here contains sweetener and creamer premixed in the powder. I use it at work because some troglodyte always fluffs the coffeepot so I prefer to boil water and drink instant. She also discovered the 20th floor where there's a cafe and better wi-fi. After the Ao Dai (o-e-i) fitting, welcome dinner, opening ceremonies, and prelim training we fell into this routine of training, pre-game, and competition.
Our team liaison Van Dai aka Radio was our translator and facilitator. She attends briefings to make sure we have the correct court times and tends to the needs of our team. Whether it's ice, match volleyballs, towels, or ensuring that our athletes with food allergies have safe options; we have by far the best liaison out of any other team in this tournament. Mind you she doesn't do all the running about, but she knows who/how to ask for stuff and exercised great patience and care with our team. She even took pictures with Coach Val's phone during some of our matches. Her presence and service was indispensable and I'm glad I got to meet her and learn her story.
That's one of the joys of traveling and meeting new people in new places. You learn their stories. All the while you become part of their stories, and they in yours. It can be a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter or ten, but whether spoken or thought, you're in there somewhere. Your story is richer because of it and becomes part of a larger story that connects us all. It's one of the few things I take pleasure in while in the company of other people.
06 June 2018
05 June 2018
Vietnam 2018 Binh Dien Cup
Let's get the particulars out of the way. I was one of two assistant coaches for the Bring It Promotions (BIP) team representing the United States in Vietnam for a volleyball tournament, Binh Dien Cup. As far as I know we are the first USA team to play in a volleyball tournament in Vietnam. Spoiler, we lost in finals and won silver. If you follow me on Facebook, you probably saw a bunch of pictures, links to video. Anna Church has a nice run down of our trip, complete with photos, and interesting stuff. You should check out her online journal/blog thing.
This was a 16 day trek for me. I arrived early to allow my body time to adjust and spent the night in LA on the way home to allow myself to decompress from the Transpacific flight (go to In-N-Out Burger). Now the time lords get to keep two of those days because I spent them on a plane and factor in the international date line nonsense.
My goals for this trip fall into two categories personal and professional. I wanted to pack light and rely on my phone for snapshots. Normally I would pack 3 cameras for a trip like this. My main, my backup, my compact, all with lenses, power and consume all the shots at once leaving zero time to digest the place I was just in. I have a tendency to shoot first, enjoy later. I wanted something different. I wanted to be present.
I wanted to experience volleyball from the bench at a high level. I wanted to test my process and practice being a little more nimble in my analysis and decision making. I wanted to be in the gym with competitors and personalities that I wouldn't get to work with normally. Not to say that my team isn't competitive, but these are professionals, it's their job and they are damn good at it.
In true adventure form, I was stepping out of my comfort zone and having to bond quickly with the staff and the athletes. I know that meeting new people and connecting is not a strength of mine. To the untrained, it seems that speaking to prospects and their parents doesn't seem to bother me. I'm somewhat at ease with it, but what most people don't realize is that before and after I go to recruit somewhere I need to isolate myself and cache my alone time so that I can cope with the general public.
Part I: Getting to Ho Chi Minh City
I read "Where the Wild Things Are" on the flight out to LA to a random child. I find that while I dislike small children, a few of them find a way to connect with me. Children, infants especially are a total mystery to me. Hell, I'm a total mystery to me. This kid in the waiting area must have seen me reading in the waiting area. It's a Southwest flight so there's open seating. I neglected to check in early so I was in one of the last groups to board. I'm wading through the aisle and I feel this tug on my trousers. It's this little boy asking me to sit in the aisle seat next to him. But, I can only sit there if I read to him. This kid is going places. Not only does he love books, but he already appreciates other people that like books. I was sold. Best flight ever. I can forgive the nose picking and sticky juice box fingers. Mom, Auntie were tending to fussy sister. Grandma did not have her glasses. I could get used to kids like this.
I feel for tall people and their smashed knees in small spaces. Here's something that might not occur to you. On some planes, my feet don't actually reach the ground fully. On some flights, I have to slouch in my seat to plant my feet comfortably on the ground. My back hates this. My legs hate to dangle. So, I'm that person that is up any chance they get on long flight to stretch, to walk about, and just not be in a seat. When you're in the middle row of the center group, this takes some finesse. I tried to time my breaks with the lady watching movies next to me. That worked really well because I think she was just a squirrel-y as I was. It even got to the point where she asked me if I needed to get up after her movie was done. Well, she didn't say it, but she pointed at me and then the aisle. Kindness is a universal. I gave her my pineapples.
Taipei Airport restrooms are like being on holiday. They are well lit. They are clean. There is no gap in the door. There's plenty of room for you and your bags. It's quiet. Props, to Taipei and their lavatories.
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City consisted of passport control, getting bags, and finding the dude that has a sign with your name on it. While Coach Val and I wait for our ride to the hotel, I'm struck by how hot and humid it is. I peel off a layer, but I'm still sweating. Okay Vietnam, Game on.
Motorbikes are the primary mode of travel. Cross the street cautiously and confidently. Look both ways. That's my best advice. Oh, and motorbikes like to take shortcuts on the sidewalk, so it's best to have some eyeballs in the back of your head.
At some point I got a massage at our hotel. It was billed as an upper body massage with paraffin hand treatment. I had never had a paraffin hand treatment. I mean I played softball and volleyball and my fingers are so mashed up they don't fully straighten at the tips (mallet finger) and other hand injuries are common, but have never had this done before.
The massage started great. She wasn't any taller or bigger than I, but she did a great job working out the massive tension in my shoulders. I probably should have warned her about the soft spot on my skull. That didn't occur to me until she gasped while she was massaging my neck and the base of my skull. The surgeon used titanium mesh to repair the hole in my skull after having a tumor removed in 2002. While it is soft there you can't poke my brain, though my family has tried. I told her in my best terrible Vietnamese that I was okay and to keep going, please. After her initial reluctance, she continued with the kneading of my head skin although with less vigor than before.
Next, the paraffin treatment or hot wax for your hands. I'm not gonna lie, the wax is hot. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I thought the wax was hot. [I've been shot, torn both ACLs (though not at the same time), rucked 5k on sprained ankles (yes both), jumped into icy water to retrieve keys, and hit in the throat with softballs, floor hockey balls/pucks and I drive on every time.] It might have been the exfoliation they did prior, it might have been the room we were in, but it was super uncomfortable at first. They wrap your hands in plastic wrap after applying the wax and peel it off like a glove. That alone was worth the price of the massage. To peel a layer from a substrate in one motion with the entire layer completely intact is one of the single most satisfying actions one can witness.
This was a 16 day trek for me. I arrived early to allow my body time to adjust and spent the night in LA on the way home to allow myself to decompress from the Transpacific flight (go to In-N-Out Burger). Now the time lords get to keep two of those days because I spent them on a plane and factor in the international date line nonsense.
My goals for this trip fall into two categories personal and professional. I wanted to pack light and rely on my phone for snapshots. Normally I would pack 3 cameras for a trip like this. My main, my backup, my compact, all with lenses, power and consume all the shots at once leaving zero time to digest the place I was just in. I have a tendency to shoot first, enjoy later. I wanted something different. I wanted to be present.
I wanted to experience volleyball from the bench at a high level. I wanted to test my process and practice being a little more nimble in my analysis and decision making. I wanted to be in the gym with competitors and personalities that I wouldn't get to work with normally. Not to say that my team isn't competitive, but these are professionals, it's their job and they are damn good at it.
In true adventure form, I was stepping out of my comfort zone and having to bond quickly with the staff and the athletes. I know that meeting new people and connecting is not a strength of mine. To the untrained, it seems that speaking to prospects and their parents doesn't seem to bother me. I'm somewhat at ease with it, but what most people don't realize is that before and after I go to recruit somewhere I need to isolate myself and cache my alone time so that I can cope with the general public.
Part I: Getting to Ho Chi Minh City
I read "Where the Wild Things Are" on the flight out to LA to a random child. I find that while I dislike small children, a few of them find a way to connect with me. Children, infants especially are a total mystery to me. Hell, I'm a total mystery to me. This kid in the waiting area must have seen me reading in the waiting area. It's a Southwest flight so there's open seating. I neglected to check in early so I was in one of the last groups to board. I'm wading through the aisle and I feel this tug on my trousers. It's this little boy asking me to sit in the aisle seat next to him. But, I can only sit there if I read to him. This kid is going places. Not only does he love books, but he already appreciates other people that like books. I was sold. Best flight ever. I can forgive the nose picking and sticky juice box fingers. Mom, Auntie were tending to fussy sister. Grandma did not have her glasses. I could get used to kids like this.
I feel for tall people and their smashed knees in small spaces. Here's something that might not occur to you. On some planes, my feet don't actually reach the ground fully. On some flights, I have to slouch in my seat to plant my feet comfortably on the ground. My back hates this. My legs hate to dangle. So, I'm that person that is up any chance they get on long flight to stretch, to walk about, and just not be in a seat. When you're in the middle row of the center group, this takes some finesse. I tried to time my breaks with the lady watching movies next to me. That worked really well because I think she was just a squirrel-y as I was. It even got to the point where she asked me if I needed to get up after her movie was done. Well, she didn't say it, but she pointed at me and then the aisle. Kindness is a universal. I gave her my pineapples.
Taipei Airport restrooms are like being on holiday. They are well lit. They are clean. There is no gap in the door. There's plenty of room for you and your bags. It's quiet. Props, to Taipei and their lavatories.
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City consisted of passport control, getting bags, and finding the dude that has a sign with your name on it. While Coach Val and I wait for our ride to the hotel, I'm struck by how hot and humid it is. I peel off a layer, but I'm still sweating. Okay Vietnam, Game on.
Motorbikes are the primary mode of travel. Cross the street cautiously and confidently. Look both ways. That's my best advice. Oh, and motorbikes like to take shortcuts on the sidewalk, so it's best to have some eyeballs in the back of your head.
At some point I got a massage at our hotel. It was billed as an upper body massage with paraffin hand treatment. I had never had a paraffin hand treatment. I mean I played softball and volleyball and my fingers are so mashed up they don't fully straighten at the tips (mallet finger) and other hand injuries are common, but have never had this done before.
The massage started great. She wasn't any taller or bigger than I, but she did a great job working out the massive tension in my shoulders. I probably should have warned her about the soft spot on my skull. That didn't occur to me until she gasped while she was massaging my neck and the base of my skull. The surgeon used titanium mesh to repair the hole in my skull after having a tumor removed in 2002. While it is soft there you can't poke my brain, though my family has tried. I told her in my best terrible Vietnamese that I was okay and to keep going, please. After her initial reluctance, she continued with the kneading of my head skin although with less vigor than before.
Next, the paraffin treatment or hot wax for your hands. I'm not gonna lie, the wax is hot. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I thought the wax was hot. [I've been shot, torn both ACLs (though not at the same time), rucked 5k on sprained ankles (yes both), jumped into icy water to retrieve keys, and hit in the throat with softballs, floor hockey balls/pucks and I drive on every time.] It might have been the exfoliation they did prior, it might have been the room we were in, but it was super uncomfortable at first. They wrap your hands in plastic wrap after applying the wax and peel it off like a glove. That alone was worth the price of the massage. To peel a layer from a substrate in one motion with the entire layer completely intact is one of the single most satisfying actions one can witness.
31 May 2018
Crowdfunding Brightspots
As tinkerer and problem solver, I appreciate the time it takes to formulate and build solutions as well as share them with others. I know I've been neglecting my posts due mostly to work changes and increased use of Twitter, FB, and Snapchat, but I think it's still important to chronicle the work of people that are working to solve our 1st world problems an creative ways. So here's a salute to the best Crowdfunded projects I've backed in no particular order.
Juiceboxx by Juiceboxx Inc., Columbus, OH- DEC2014
What is it? A cable manager for your MacBook charger. It snaps on your AC adapter and provides better ears to wrap your cord around. I pledged for my MBA and MBP, and still use them today. They come in different colors for those wishing to match their other accessories.
Free Rider Pannier by Ryan Moseman, Denver CO- AUG2014
What is it? A bicycle pannier with theft deterrent hardware, made from re-purposed fabric from the local awning shop. I pledged for one and it lived up to it's billing. It carried my groceries, my backpack, bike lock, and more. Best part was when I wasn't using it to haul gear, it tucked away nice and flat. You can find these and more on the Green Guru website if you're interested. I had to purchase new panniers after my beloved Green Monster was stolen in Wooster, OH.
Venturi Belt by D. Griffin and Brandon Hembree MAY2017
What is it? An adjustable web belt to hold up your trousers. Easy on and off. This is my go to belt. I pledged for Gray and Black belts with Black and Slate buckles so I could mix and match. The hardware is great quality and after breaking them in I haven't had a single issue with stitching or adjustments.
Allpa 35L Travel Pack by Cotopaxi SEP2017
What is it? A travel pack with several internal compartments and clean external lines. The 1st generation of this pack gets the job done. It has a modular design so you can add a water bottle pocket, the rain cover, or clip anything you might want to the exterior like a towel or wet socks. I hope they improve the to tight waist belt pocket, and provide some kind of internal compression to keep the lines of the bag clean. There are only compression straps for the main compartment. This bag has been to Costa Rica, several business trips, and multiple road trips with me since and it's one of the best ways to travel small.
Juiceboxx by Juiceboxx Inc., Columbus, OH- DEC2014
What is it? A cable manager for your MacBook charger. It snaps on your AC adapter and provides better ears to wrap your cord around. I pledged for my MBA and MBP, and still use them today. They come in different colors for those wishing to match their other accessories.
Free Rider Pannier by Ryan Moseman, Denver CO- AUG2014
What is it? A bicycle pannier with theft deterrent hardware, made from re-purposed fabric from the local awning shop. I pledged for one and it lived up to it's billing. It carried my groceries, my backpack, bike lock, and more. Best part was when I wasn't using it to haul gear, it tucked away nice and flat. You can find these and more on the Green Guru website if you're interested. I had to purchase new panniers after my beloved Green Monster was stolen in Wooster, OH.
Venturi Belt by D. Griffin and Brandon Hembree MAY2017
What is it? An adjustable web belt to hold up your trousers. Easy on and off. This is my go to belt. I pledged for Gray and Black belts with Black and Slate buckles so I could mix and match. The hardware is great quality and after breaking them in I haven't had a single issue with stitching or adjustments.
Allpa 35L Travel Pack by Cotopaxi SEP2017
What is it? A travel pack with several internal compartments and clean external lines. The 1st generation of this pack gets the job done. It has a modular design so you can add a water bottle pocket, the rain cover, or clip anything you might want to the exterior like a towel or wet socks. I hope they improve the to tight waist belt pocket, and provide some kind of internal compression to keep the lines of the bag clean. There are only compression straps for the main compartment. This bag has been to Costa Rica, several business trips, and multiple road trips with me since and it's one of the best ways to travel small.
30 May 2018
And Now For Something Different
If you haven't noticed, I'm no longer coaching in Erie, PA. I started my post at The College of Wooster in August 2016 and have been there ever since. I've traveled to Scotland with our team in January 2017. In May 2017, I was asked to Head Coach with Beyond Sports Tours in Costa Rica. Those trips were great fun and I have many fond memories of the athletes and those countries. Between moving and starting a new job I'm so far behind on blogging, that I've decided instead of playing catch up I'll renew my fervor for writing by sharing with my most recent trip to Vietnam with Bring It Promotions as an assistant coach for the 2018 Binh Dien Cup. I still journal daily, and will try my best to update weekly with tales of wit and woe.
28 May 2018
Rest-Memorial Day 2018
A set of tags,
crumpled letter,
worn boots,
photo by the rack.
A pool of blood,
dressings on the ground,
flat line,
i'm sorry you didn't make it back.
Taps and tears,
rifles and flowers,
two hands under folded flag,
heads lift up from black.
Honor and duty,
tamed by none,
more than a friend,
always part of this pack.
crumpled letter,
worn boots,
photo by the rack.
A pool of blood,
dressings on the ground,
flat line,
i'm sorry you didn't make it back.
Taps and tears,
rifles and flowers,
two hands under folded flag,
heads lift up from black.
Honor and duty,
tamed by none,
more than a friend,
always part of this pack.
--Rest Now--
26 May 2018
Kickstart my, wait, never mind...
Key Stak by Mike Kamber
I pledged $35 for an aluminum Key Stak with a clip and bottle opener, and gave the creator more for iterations in different colors, with and without lights, in addition to clips, and bottle openers to give as gifts to friends. The purpose of the project was to stream line your key carry, and add a light in the process. The project description reads like a study in carbon fiber techniques and I'm happy to support someone that's trying out their chops working with different materials. But this project definitely soured my experience with Kickstarter.
Timeline:
Pledged- Dec 2013
Estimated Delivery- Mar 2014
Arrival of Reward- Nov 2014
The Reward:
I received the items I backed. The issue is the flimsy construction and finishing. If this was billed as a carbon fiber DIY kit, then it would be a bit more truthful. And I probably would have put in the effort to find quality hardware for these Key Staks. Instead I've opted for Orbitkey as gifts instead of this monstrosity. I would not back projects from this creator again.
I pledged $35 for an aluminum Key Stak with a clip and bottle opener, and gave the creator more for iterations in different colors, with and without lights, in addition to clips, and bottle openers to give as gifts to friends. The purpose of the project was to stream line your key carry, and add a light in the process. The project description reads like a study in carbon fiber techniques and I'm happy to support someone that's trying out their chops working with different materials. But this project definitely soured my experience with Kickstarter.
Timeline:
Pledged- Dec 2013
Estimated Delivery- Mar 2014
Arrival of Reward- Nov 2014
The Reward:
I received the items I backed. The issue is the flimsy construction and finishing. If this was billed as a carbon fiber DIY kit, then it would be a bit more truthful. And I probably would have put in the effort to find quality hardware for these Key Staks. Instead I've opted for Orbitkey as gifts instead of this monstrosity. I would not back projects from this creator again.
We have lift off
Apollo Technical Pen and Drafting Scale by Pranay and Paul
I backed the Apollo Technical Pen at the $65 level and received a Pen as a reward. I also ponied up for an extra stylus tip and pen roll. I do love pens. My go to pen is Uni Jetstream 0.7 which I'll have to write about later since it by far one of the best pens I've encountered to date. I decided to back this project because in my love for pens is also a love for refills. It was billed as a pen that could accept many different types of refills. Instead of buying boxes of pens to try, I could just try the refills and the ink.
Timeline:
Pledged-NOV2013
Estimated Delivery-FEB2014
Arrival of Reward-SEP2015
Update 05JAN2015
I have been using the pen with slight modifications to the refill. I have pierced holes at the tip of the refill tube to allow for better airflow. I noticed that at times the ink would not flow properly. Being a great fan of the Uni Jetstream and having full knowledge that the refill couldn't be empty I used a push pin to increase the airflow an minimize the suction effect on the ink. Haven't had a problem since.
Update 02JAN2017
I used this pen faithfully for an entire year. I gave up on open ended refills, because they were imploding/exploding, er the ink was not staying put even with the relief I was providing. I switched to an enclosed refill from Monteverde. It's my journal pen now. The Monteverde ink was originally purchased for a cool pen I had from college, but I could never quite find the refill
Update 10DEC2017
Last update came in on 09FEB2016 and people still haven't received their reward. As evidenced in the comments section. They promised to have replacement and retooled parts to address the exploding refill issue. They have not fulfilled thousands of orders and it looks as if a refund is not coming any time soon. Kickstarter needs to get a handle on these campaigns that don't address issues with their backers in a timely manner. 5 years is way too long for no product and no answers. This pen is decent. I still use it to journal with when fountain pen is inconvenient to carry. Lesson learned.
I backed the Apollo Technical Pen at the $65 level and received a Pen as a reward. I also ponied up for an extra stylus tip and pen roll. I do love pens. My go to pen is Uni Jetstream 0.7 which I'll have to write about later since it by far one of the best pens I've encountered to date. I decided to back this project because in my love for pens is also a love for refills. It was billed as a pen that could accept many different types of refills. Instead of buying boxes of pens to try, I could just try the refills and the ink.
Timeline:
Pledged-NOV2013
Estimated Delivery-FEB2014
Arrival of Reward-SEP2015
Update 05JAN2015
I have been using the pen with slight modifications to the refill. I have pierced holes at the tip of the refill tube to allow for better airflow. I noticed that at times the ink would not flow properly. Being a great fan of the Uni Jetstream and having full knowledge that the refill couldn't be empty I used a push pin to increase the airflow an minimize the suction effect on the ink. Haven't had a problem since.
Update 02JAN2017
I used this pen faithfully for an entire year. I gave up on open ended refills, because they were imploding/exploding, er the ink was not staying put even with the relief I was providing. I switched to an enclosed refill from Monteverde. It's my journal pen now. The Monteverde ink was originally purchased for a cool pen I had from college, but I could never quite find the refill
Update 10DEC2017
Last update came in on 09FEB2016 and people still haven't received their reward. As evidenced in the comments section. They promised to have replacement and retooled parts to address the exploding refill issue. They have not fulfilled thousands of orders and it looks as if a refund is not coming any time soon. Kickstarter needs to get a handle on these campaigns that don't address issues with their backers in a timely manner. 5 years is way too long for no product and no answers. This pen is decent. I still use it to journal with when fountain pen is inconvenient to carry. Lesson learned.
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